OKW feel

[Dsnymouse]

We own a timeshare and trade with RCI. We are thinking of trading into a Disney DVC for a week at OKW. While we have stayed at other timeshares in Florida I am wondering, "do you feel the magic" at Disney timeshares?
Our one complaint about staying off-site is the special feeling you associate with staying on-site. Do the DVC feel special? Also, are you able to take advantage of special that Disney is offering, such as free dining if you stay at a DVC site? Has anyone stayed in a studio room?

Any help or comments about OKW would be helpful.
Thanks!

 

[Mickeygolf]

You won't be able to get the free dining for sure. As an owner of OKW I always feel like the Disney Magic when we stay here. It's just a relaxing place, but plenty of Disney subtleties to make sure you know where you are. Never stayed in a studio, but I know they are very nice. Two queen beds and they are larger than any other hotel room equivalent on property.

You will not go wrong with a stay at OKW!!!

 

[Brian Noble]

DVC resorts generally take on the personalities of their individual theming.

OKW is not particularly "Disney" in the way that, say, All-Star Movies might be (no giant Disney characters). It's theme is also a little understated compared to, say, Animal Kindgom Lodge or Wilderness Lodge. It's also not right in the middle of the action in the way that, say, Beach Club or the Poly might be, or even SSR with its views of Downtown Disney across the water.

But, it is a lovely resort, it has all of the amenities you'd expect from a Disney resort (complimentary transportation, seamless charging across property, resort delivery service, etc.) and we happen to really enjoy the laid back "island time" pace of the theming that the resort provides. The 1BR and 2BR rooms are a very nice size, and compare to the better off-property timeshares in terms of space. They are a little more casually decorated and appointed than some of the offsite alternatives but that's common to many of the Disney resorts. I think the studios are really more like a decently-sized hotel room, but that's just me.

 

[DenLo]

Most DCV members buy because the DVC resorts are on property and still have the Disney Magic. And by buying now the next 35 to 50 years reservations will be at today price.

Perhaps you should take a tour the next time you are in Orlando.

 

[chepic]

"Welcome Home" gets me everytime...

We own at OKW and do prefer it to the other DVC properties for different reasons. We have stayed in a studio a few times and they are nicer than the average hotel room. They are slightly bigger with a small fridge, micro, and coffee pot. There are the 2 queen beds to really stretch yourself out on. The extra space is nice, especially when walking around the room at night.

The resort itself has the slow lazy feeling of southern Florida, with the golf course and lots of water ways snaking around the resort. It has some really nice hidden spots to play tennis, hang at a quiet pool, and a nice boat ride over to DDD. I like walking around in the morning before most people are up and watch the sun rise over the waterways. We have also seen lots of animals swimming around....the kids love that. And it is really nice to sit out on the deck and watch a few of the golfers go by.

I have to say we always get the "Disney" feeling the minute we drive under the sign. Although OKW is the oldest of all the DVC properties, it just has that something that draws us back there versus any of the others...just my opinion. I am certain that each owner feels that way about the place they bought into.

You should not be disappointed in staying here. Have fun

Cheryl

 

[Deb & Bill]

We own a timeshare and trade with RCI. We are thinking of trading into a Disney DVC for a week at OKW. While we have stayed at other timeshares in Florida I am wondering, "do you feel the magic" at Disney timeshares?
Our one complaint about staying off-site is the special feeling you associate with staying on-site. Do the DVC feel special? Also, are you able to take advantage of special that Disney is offering, such as free dining if you stay at a DVC site? Has anyone stayed in a studio room?

Any help or comments about OKW would be helpful.
Thanks!

DVC members are not entitled to any of those freebies because they don't purchase a package. Free dining, free nights all come with a package purchase that includes room at rack rate (not on DVC points) and tickets for all guests on the reservation. OKW has the only studios at WDW that have two queen beds. All the others have a queen bed and a double sleeper sofa.

 

[eporter66]

We love staying on property, and have enjoyed all the resorts. Each one is unique, and yet we feel the "magic" when we stay.

 

[Dsnymouse]

Thanks everyone for the replies - I guess you can't go wrong with Disney all around! This would be the first time stay at a DVC and just wondered if the "magic feeling" was there.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks everyone for the replies - I guess you can't go wrong with Disney all around! This would be the first time stay at a DVC and just wondered if the "magic feeling" was there.

The "Magic" is definitely there, but I'd like to encourage you to stay in something larger than a studio. To me you miss the whole intrigue of the resort when you stay in a studio. That is especialy true of OKW where the studios are all on the ends of the buildings. We LOVE OKW, but I am not a fan of the studios. The only place I'll willingly stay in a studio is Animal Kingdom Vills Concierge level!

 

[1153rsmith]

We exchanged into OKW through RCI this past September, and like someone else said, "welcome Home" got me every time we went through the gate.

During that same trip, we also stayed 3 nights at a time share off-site.

I MUCH prefer staying on-site. The staff was much more personable. As someone has stated, OKW does not have huge Mickey statues everywhere, but the Disney Magic is still there.
If something is wrong with the room, they take care of it immediately. they had plenty of activities going on around the pool if you wanted to partake.
You have the Disney transportation if you want. You also can have your purchased in the parks delivered back to your resort..... the list goes on and on.

That was the first time we had exchanged through RCI, but we have already booked again for May 2010. staying at Animal Kingdom this time.

Staying on disney property is more RCI points than staying at one outside the park, and I don't like the $95 fee Disney tacks on when you check in..in addition to the regular RCI exchange fee, but all in all, I think it is still worth it.

If RCI ever stops exchanging, I just may have to bite the bullet and buy at DVC, but right now, at least my timeshare is finally working for me.

 

[dmoore22]

"Welcome Home" gets me everytime...

We own at OKW and do prefer it to the other DVC properties for different reasons. We have stayed in a studio a few times and they are nicer than the average hotel room. They are slightly bigger with a small fridge, micro, and coffee pot. There are the 2 queen beds to really stretch yourself out on. The extra space is nice, especially when walking around the room at night.

The resort itself has the slow lazy feeling of southern Florida, with the golf course and lots of water ways snaking around the resort. It has some really nice hidden spots to play tennis, hang at a quiet pool, and a nice boat ride over to DDD. I like walking around in the morning before most people are up and watch the sun rise over the waterways. We have also seen lots of animals swimming around....the kids love that. And it is really nice to sit out on the deck and watch a few of the golfers go by.

I have to say we always get the "Disney" feeling the minute we drive under the sign. Although OKW is the oldest of all the DVC properties, it just has that something that draws us back there versus any of the others...just my opinion. I am certain that each owner feels that way about the place they bought into.

You should not be disappointed in staying here. Have fun

Cheryl

Ditto! We also own at OKW and love the laid back "Old Florida" feel with a subtle touch of Mickey. Now that we are older we use the studios almost exclusively. The mini-kitchenette, the queen-size beds, and the extra square footage is more than enough for our needs. If we need to do laundry the laundromats are free to DVC members and quite convenient if we really must do laundry on our trips. Plus we now can stretch our points for multiple trips each year. We're hooked on the Magic as soon as we drive through the gates and the CM says "Welcome Home!" and we know he/she means it.

 

[Dsnymouse]

Thanks 1153 & Dmoore for the RCI prespective. I too would love to be a DVC member but Dh won't allow it. So I have the best of both worlds through RCI.
The reason inquired about the studio is that is what's available at the present moment. It think is will be a nice situation for myself, Dh, and DD.
Thanks again - think I will book it!

 

[Brian Noble]

It think is will be a nice situation for myself, Dh, and DD.

What are your dates? Are you searching in Weeks, or in Points? If in Weeks, are you seeing any larger units for any dates at any of the other DVC resorts?

Depending on your answers to these questions, it might be worth holding out for a larger unit.

 

[Dsnymouse]

Brian - We are flexible on date and are weeks owners. We don't want to go during the summer months, trying to avoid crowds. The only thing open right now are studios for exchange. It's rare that DVC's open up at all through RCI. We can get into other DVC and larger if we choose to pay for it.

 

[ldo]

If you are only seeing studios, there is a good chance that you only have enough "trading power" for a studio. You can test by not entering any dates in your RCI search and see if any DVC 1 BR come up, if not, then you don't have enough trading power to pull a larger unit, b/c there have been some 1 BRs at DVC available for the past 6 months---however, as many in RCI have found, it takes a top-tier trader to get 1 and 2 BRs at DVC. THus, I would take the studio and have fun. We stayed at DVC-OKW last year and had a great time. Elaine

 

[Dsnymouse]

Elanie - Thanks for the tip! I am sure we only have enough trading power for a studio. Our ownership is in Cabo and it's not a high tiered one. I will try the search, good idea. We are ok with a studio, our main focus was to stay on property. Don't think we will spend huge amounts of time in the studio, we will be at the parks!

 

[Sammie]

The Disney magic, in my opinion, is something you feel in your heart not by certain furnishings at a resort or even a location.

so yes to me all DVC are magical.

 

[chepic]

The Disney magic, in my opinion, is something you feel in your heart not by certain furnishings at a resort or even a location.

so yes to me all DVC are magical.

Right on Sammie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Either you are a Disney person, or your not. I have said this many times to people when they ask me why we go every year. It is also why we keep coming back to OKW. It is the resort we bought into (1997) and even though we have stayed in the others, OKW is our "home".

Cheryl

 

[Dsnymouse]

Sammie & Cheryl - I agree the feeling associated with Disney is not based on furnishing and such. I love Disney and have a special place in my heart for it!
I guess I should clarify, we stayed off-site last trip - it was spring break and HEAVY Crowds! Between the crowds and driving back and forth to our timeshare, and over crowded parking lots, we said never again! We want to be close to the parks and par-take in Disney busing. I just wondered if DVC's had a simlar feel to stay at Disney Resorts?

Thanks for all your post looking forward to staying at OKW.

 

[chepic]

Sammie & Cheryl - I agree the feeling associated with Disney is not based on furnishing and such. I love Disney and have a special place in my heart for it!
I guess I should clarify, we stayed off-site last trip - it was spring break and HEAVY Crowds! Between the crowds and driving back and forth to our timeshare, and over crowded parking lots, we said never again! We want to be close to the parks and par-take in Disney busing. I just wondered if DVC's had a simlar feel to stay at Disney Resorts?

Thanks for all your post looking forward to staying at OKW.

I agree about staying on property. We now have 2 boys (4 and 8), and because of being able to stay in the world, and having the luxury of going to Disney just about every year, we just don't feel forced into going into the parks to have a good time. And if the park is extrememly crwoded, we don't feel the need to push the kids through an entire day. Keeping the whine factor down is important.

Before owning at OKW, we would stay at the campground, and the Disney feeling is there. With that said, there is nothing better than when they tell you "welcome home"....I just can't get enough of that! Call me silly.

cheryl